Corrections officer suspended after hunting accident

POTSDAM — A corrections officer was suspended without pay after being involved in the accidental shooting of a Norwood hunter a day earlier, state Department of Correctional Services officials said Friday.

Ricky A. Brunelle, 43, Ellenburg Depot, was charged Thursday with second-degree assault, a felony, state police said.

Mr. Brunelle, a 19-year veteran working at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, is accused of shooting Bernard H. Sharlow, 38, while hunting Thursday morning near Dayton Road.

Mr. Sharlow remained in critical condition Friday at Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vt., hospital officials said. He was shot in the stomach.

Mr. Brunelle was about 50 yards from Mr. Sharlow when he shot a muzzleloader at what he thought was a deer, police said.